Forestry & Wood Technology.

THE FEDERAL UNIVERERSITY OF TECHNOLOGY, AKURE

DEPARTMENT OF FORESTY AND WOOD TECHNOLOGY

HAND BOOK

Brief history

The Department of Forestry and Wood technology was established as one of the five in the school of Agriculture and Agricultural technology at inception 1982. It took off effectively in 1983 when the first set of students was admitted. The Department was established to give prominence to sound scientific tram and provide the much-required impetus for rapid technological and industrial development in Forestry and Wood Technology.

The pioneering work to put the new Department on a sound footing started with Late. Dr. F.A. Akinsanmi, a Lecturer from the Department of Forest Resources Management, University of Ibadan, Ibadan Nigeria, who during his brief stay as a Sabbatical Staff was saddled with the responsibility of heading the Department. He was joined in 1984 by Prof, (then Dr) J.A. Fuwape - the first full - time academic staff and others such as Prof, (then Dr) O. Kadeba (1987), Prof. (then Dr.) A.O. Oluyege (1986), Prof. (then Mr) B. Olufemi (1986), Prof, (then Mr) S.O.Akindele (1988) who formed the formidable team of pioneer academic staff that worked assiduously to lay the solid foundation for the Department. Others are Mr J.B. Oluleye. Dr. (then Mr) C.B. Ogunnika and Dr (then Mr). Owoyemi who joined shortly after to form the strong team of technical staff. Since inception, a number of eminent personalities have the priviledge of piloting the affairs of the Department as head or Ag. Head, they include:

S/No

Name

Period

1

Dr. F.A. Akinsanmi

1983 - 1984

2

Prof. J. A. Fuwape

1984-1987:1990-1991:1993-1999

3

Prof. A. O. Kadeba

1987-1990' 1991-1993

4

Prof. A. O. Oluyege

1999-2002; 2005 - 2008

5

Prof. S. O. Akindele

2002 - 2004

6

Prof. M.B. Oyun

2008-2010

7

Dr. D. O. Oke

2010-2012

8

Prof. B. Ajayi

August 2012 to July 2015

9

Prof. B. Olufemi

2004- 2005 ; August 2015- July 2018

10

Prof. V.A.J. Adekunle

August 2018 till date\

Achievement of the Department

The department of Forestry and Wood Technology, FUTA has been very active at both local and international scenes contributing immensely to the body of knowledge in the various areas of specialization. The dedicated and hardworking staff in the department have won several awards and grants.

The research grants won in the Department in the last five years includes:

S/No

Title

Donor agency

1

European - African network to improved higher education institution in agriculture and forestry based on new labour market

African, Caribbean Pacific Group Group of States (ACP) Research Grant No. Europe Aid /126851/D/ACT Multi (Joint). Value of grant EUR 420,682.69

2

Influence of plantation development on biodiversity conservation in humid lowland rainforests of West Africa

African Forestry Research Network (A FORNET) Research Grant No 382006 Value of grant ($65,000.00)

3

Domestication of some important indigenous forest food tree species -phenotype variation, selection and nursery investigation

Alexander von Humboldt Foundation. Value of grant (EUR 54,574.00)

4

Management of ecosystem services of south west Nigeria in support of rural livelihoods and food security

Global Change System of Analysis Research Training Research and Training (START) 2011 Grant for

Global Environmental Change Research in Africa. Value of grant ($45,000.00)

5

Intergrated Soil Fertility Management for food Security: Matching capacities in Anglophone West African Nation HEIs with local needs (CAPACITY4FOOD)

Edulink Programme from the European Commission (Project No. FED/2013/320-275 (2016/2017).

6

On the Job Capacity building in Food security and Environmental Management

United Nation University, Japan

2015, 2016 & 2017 (15,000USD/year)

7

Erasmus Mondus KA+ 107 Mobility Programme

University of Jaen, Spain 2019

8

Production of value added composites from municipal wood and plastic waste

Tertiary Education Trust Fund (11 million Naira (Ongoing)

The students of the Department are also not left out. They have been performing excellently well both at home and abroad. The FUTA chapter of International Forestry Students Association (IFSA) won the first prize in the essay competition organized to mark the 50th anniversary of Forestry Association of Nigerian 2011. Nine of our students won the MasterCard Foundation Fellowship for postgraduate programme at the University of British Columbia, Canada. While five of them successfully completed the postgraduate progrmame in 2018, four are ongoing. Two of our former students are currently on postgraduate programme in Europe and Germany with the Erasmus Scholarship. Presently, four of our 400 level students are at the University of Jaen, Spain for a five month industrial training (September 2019 to January 2020).

The first set of graduates was produced in the Department in 1988 and this was made up of only five students. The population of graduations being turned out by the Department is increasing yearly. The reports reaching the Department from the employers of these graduates all over the country and abroad indicate that they are excellent products. The table below indicated the present number of students according to sexes in each level of study.

Present Enrolment (2017/ 2018)

LEVEL

MALE

FEMALE

TOTAL

100

33

40

73

200

68

99

167

300

32

33

65

400

26

25

51

500

18

18

36

TOTAL

177

215

392

Prof. V.A.J. Adekunle

Head of Department